At UiA, there is less pressure to memorise things. It is one's ability to find the correct information and how to be self-organised that is put to the test.
Alexandra Shuvalova
From Russia
My name is Alexandra Shuvalova, I am a 20-year-old Sociology student from Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia. My hobbies include playing the violin, travelling and hiking. Other than that, I am interested in sociology and ecology.
I visited Norway for one hour when I attended summer school in Finland on the border of Finland, Sweden and Norway. During this hour in Skibotn I fell in love with the nature and the atmosphere of the country. I told myself that I definitely had to come back here. I specifically chose the University of Agder because it has a lot of activities and a great variety of student organisations.
The buddies from ESN were meeting us at the centre and stayed there until 11 pm, so even though I arrived quite late because I missed one of my flights, it all worked out just fine and I did not have any problems.
The way of teaching here at the University of Agder is totally different from my home University. Here there is less stress to memorise things; instead, it is your ability to find the correct information and how to be self-organised that is put to the test. It is easier and harder at the same time, because you have to be able to be your own boss and to self-educate.
I have two favourite areas in Kristiansand. The first is the city center, because it’s really beautiful and has a special atmosphere of a mixture of old and modern buildings, different shops and cafes. The second place is a lake called Jegersberg, which is near the university. Such beautiful nature so close to our dorms, it is a fairytale.
I have already been to Trolltunga, which was an amazing experience. It was the hardest hiking trip that I have ever done, but it only made it more special. I am soon planning to go to Oslo and to ESN trip to Preikestolen. I am also going to visit a friend of mine, who is on exchange in Paris.